Kolkata
Thank you so much for joining us again at Whiria Kids as we lead up to Christmas 2025.
This term we are revisiting Kolkata and encouraging you to help us raise funds for the next Joyya Kids’ Carnival. This is our 2025 Christmas appeal at Whiria Kids and Arotahi.
We’ve added a new wordfind, a new colouring page & a new Scripture video for you to incorporate as you learn more about India, along with some ideas for fundraisers to use in your communities, if you would like to join us in the Christmas appeal..
Kolkata is close to our hearts at Whiria Kids. The opportunity to bring some joy to the children there is such a treasure. You’ll find more details below…
Kolkata is one of India’s largest cities. The city is centred on the east bank of the Hugli River, once the main channel of the Ganges River. Kolkata is a large and vibrant city. Some of the city’s nicknames are “city of joy,” “city of furious, creative energy,” and “city of palaces”.....
Map of Kolkata
About Kolkata
Jazz tells us about Kolkata in this video.
Christmas Appeal 2025
This Christmas we’re raising money to help Joyya put on a community carnival - a full day of fun for the women and children in their neighbourhood.
For the tamariki it’s a chance to experience something out of the ordinary-a day that’s all about fun, creativity, and connection.
These carnivals aren’t just about games, bouncy castles and facepaint! They’re also about creating space for joy with their wider whānau.
We’d love your support to make it all happen.
We’re aiming to get all donations in by 12 December, in order to transfer the funds to the team in Kolkata before Christmas.
Any funds received after 12 December 2025 will be donated to Joyya to be used where most needed.
Donation Details
Bank Account Name: Develop Together
Bank Account Number: 02-0192-0549793-00
Statement Particulars: *Name within 10 Characters
Statement Code: * (Your ID Code)
Statement Reference: Joyya CD
Fundraising Ideas
Coin collection
Download the String of Lights Coin Collector Sheet and print one for each child to take home. Encourage children to return their sheet full of coins. Remind them that they can offer to do small jobs for each coin, e.g. make a cup of tea, do the dishes, vacuum the house, or wash the car.Christmas cookies
Check out the recipe on our resource page & make cookies in your children’s programmes to sell, to raise funds!Advent Resource
We invite you to use these resources as you head towards and focus on Christmas.
Advent Candle Video read by Daisy and Ari Hodgson - Ngāi Tahu
Our Advent Script can be found on our resource page.
Grace & peace from us at Whiria Kids
Truck Art
Many are decorated with bright colours, slogans, symbols of belief and culture, and sometimes just random items attached to the truck.
Punjab (at the top of India) is the main hub of truck art. There is a whole industry dedicated to this art form. The generations of families have been working dedicatedly in this field. In fact, their livelihood comes from it. They make plain trucks into an extravaganza of art and culture.
On the resource page you’ll find a colouring template for your own truck art. Have fun!
Making Porotta
The recipe is in our resource page along with a wordfind of authentic Indian food. Have fun!
Prayer for Kolkata
Here’s some things you might like to pray about, or you can pray along with Grace in the video:
- Pray for clean water
- Thank you for the fun of being able to play football together
- Thank you for youth groups
- Pray for girls to be able to stay in school
- Pray for children to dream about their futures
- Pray for safety from flooding on the canals, near family homes
Whiria Content
You might like to use our content in different ways. Perhaps:
- For an ‘all-in’ intergenerational service
- A starter activity for your Sunday children’s programme
- Or, your whole children’s programme
- Or, for home-based activities
We also have Whiria Kids badges available for children to earn by learning memory verses, attending Whiria sessions and joining projects. Up to you how you choose to award these and you can order them here
